Improvement in car-couplings



J. A. J. CHAPMAN.

Improvement in Car Coupling. N0. l23,150 Patentedjan.30,172.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. J. CHAPMAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

I IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUELINGS.

Spec'ication forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,150, dated January 30, 1872.

Specication describing a certain Improvement in Car-Coupling, invented by JOHN A. J. CHAPMAN, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in apparatus for coupling railyroad cars; and consists in the construction,

arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a longitudinal side view, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a detached front View of the ratchet and pinion for operating upon the compression-spring. Fig. 5 is a side view of the same. i

raised from the head of the link for uncouplin g.

Gr is asnpporting-stirrup beneath the drawhead, the ends of which are trmly attached to the platform A. The draw-head is allowed a longitudinal motion in this stirrup, which motion is limited by slots in the draw-head and screws in the stirrup, as seen in Fig. This longitudinal motion compresses the spring H, which serves to break the concussion when cars come together, and acts as a bumperspring. I is a compression-spring between the bars J J. On the bottom side of J are a few cogs. K is a ratchet on the horizontal shaft L. M is a pinion on the shaft L, provided with more or less cogs, which engage with the cogs on the bar J N and O is a pawl-lever for operating the ratchet and turning the pinion. By this means the spring I is compressed and the bar J is forced to the link, so as to prevent the jerking of cars when in motion. P is a holdingpawl arran ged in connection with the ratchet, as seen in Fig. l. R represents a spring, which is attached to the draw-head at one end and presses on the pivot-couplin g jaw at the other end. S is a small spring which bears the jaw upward, to keep the jaw in position. T is a bent lever by which the pivot-jaw E is raised for uncoupling. Uis a key which slides through the draw-head and holds the couplin g-pivot jaw down when the cars are coupled. This bar is operated by the lever V. The arrangement of the levers T, sliding key U, and lever V is plainly seen in Fig. 3. W is a rod or cord for disengaging the holdin g-pawl P from the ratchet. a is a coupling-pin, which may be used in the pivot-jaw and draw-head with a common coupling-link. The heads of my dart-headed coupler C may be connected with one or more bars, as by my improvement the heads only are engaged in coupling.

I do not limit or conne myself to the precise form or arrangement of the parts described in this invention, as they may be varied in many ways without depart-in g from my invention.

The duty to be performed by the spring under consideration is this: When two cars are uncoupled and the dart-headed link is held by one or the other, the free end of said link is held by springs S in such a position as to freely enter the jaws ofthe opposite draw-head. Said spring, adjusted in strength and position for the purpose, presses against the inclosed darthead beneath it, and thus sustains the outer or free end of link.

Having thus described my invention7 I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The arrangement of the spring S with the pivot-jaw E, as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a car-coupling, of the bars J J compression-spring I, ratchet K, and pinion M, arranged to operate as and for the purposes described.

JNO. A. J. CHAPMAN. Witnesses:

0. H. RAY, P. H. DrrsEL. 

